The Hindu : National : Centre terms naxalite attack a "desperate act"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006

National

National

Centre terms naxalite attack a "desperate act"

Special Correspondent

Offers assistance to Chhattisgarh Government to tackle situation

— Photo: Special Arrangement

SOFT TARGET: Charred remains of houses set ablaze by naxalites in Erraboru village in Chhattisgarh on Monday.

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday offered all possible assistance to the Chhattisgarh government in tackling the situation following the naxalite attack on a relief camp in Dantewada district of the State.

Describing the attack as a "desperate act'' arising out of "frustration,'' a Home Ministry spokesperson said innocent, unsuspecting civilians were killed in a "most brutal manner'' by those claiming to be the champions of the poor and the downtrodden.

"The Home Ministry condemns the incident and is anguished that innocent people have been targeted. The Ministry is in touch with senior officials of the State Government and has promised all possible help,'' the spokesperson told reporters.

Union Home Secretary Vinod Kumar Duggal spoke to the State police chief and offered assistance. About a dozen battalions of the central para-military forces are already deployed in Chhattisgarh. The Home Ministry is likely to send helicopters to the State for air lifting the injured as well as launching air borne combing operations.

"State Government officials have rushed to the spot. Relief operations are on. Operations to nab those who attacked the camp have been intensified by a large contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force who are on anti-naxal duty,'' the spokesperson said.

The naxalites, he said, were engaged in such killings because of the counter-offensive by the State machinery.

Hyderabad Special Correspondent reports:

The Andhra Pradesh Government has offered to help Chhattisgarh in undertaking combing operations against the Maoists "immediately."

Chhattisgarh has, however, not indicated its mind on the offer but "we are ready to help that State in whichever way it wants," said Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K. Jana Reddy.

Reacting on the Erraboru massacre, he said such help was offered to Orissa, which too faces a naxalite problem.As part of the joint operations, the Andhra Pradesh police had joined their Orissa counterparts for combing operations in that State. "The same can be done in the case of Chhattisgarh," he said.Mr. Reddy said full medical help was being extended to the injured persons, some of whom had been shifted to Bhadrachalam.

With a view to checking possible infiltration of Maoists from Chhattisgarh, areas in Andhra Pradesh bordering that State had been put on alert. Round-the-clock vigil was being kept and combing operations undertaken. In the naxalite strongholds in the border areas where the Grey Hounds were already present, patrolling had been intensified.

Mr. Reddy condemned the attack as "inhuman and barbarous" and sought people's co-operation for the success of the anti-naxalite operations. He expressed sympathies to the members of the bereaved tribal families.

Kolkata Special Correspondent reports:

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said he had spoken to the Home Ministry about the attack. Mr. Singh was here to attend a consultative meeting on the draft approach paper on the 11th Plan with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The Chief Minister said he had instructed the Director General of Police to step up operations against naxalites wherever they were active. He also announced a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to each of the victims.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National